Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-05
REAL ESTATE MATTERS,
Some Of the New Houses that Are Being
Erected.

THE AUTHORITY NECESSARY TO LEeAL1zE CITY AND
SUBURBAN SUBDIVISIONS OF LAND-THz ENLARG1-
MENT OF THE MOSES BUILDING. THE ARN0, 40
ACTIVITY In THE REAL ESTATE MARKET.
The past week has witnessed an active real es-
tate market both In the transactions that have
taken place and In the preparations that are be-
ing made for the erection Of new houses. Two
large transactions in suburban property-the sale
Of the Nourse property and Of the Ogle Tayloe
farm-have been the features OF the week, while
the long list OF transfers in the daily court record
show that the smaller investors are still in the
market. Extensive Improvements are contem-
plated, both by owners Of city and suburban prop
erty, but the plans have not materialzed suff1-
GENTLY TO make them assured facts.
SUBURBAN AND CITY SUBDIVISIONS.
The legal power Of the Commissioners to ap-
prove or disapprove any proposed subdivision OF
lots in the District Will be tested in the mandamus
proceedings which, as stated in THE STAR have
been instituted by Daniel r. Case to compel the
District surveyor to receive and record the plat OF
a proposed subdivision OF land without the ap-
proval OF the commissioners 1t has been Gus
Commissioners. While the Engineer Commits
siOner has been making strong effort to secure
legislation which would put stop to any further
SUBDIVISIONS OF SUBURBAN property manifeStly dis
cordant with the general plan OF the city, the
Commissioners have at the same time approved
many such subdivisions: To STAR reporter
Col. Ludlow said that there was grave doubt
whether their disapproval would have any legal
weight. In other words, their approval was
hold 1t. 1t was because Of this lack Of authority
on the part of the Commissioners that they sought
subdivisions The bill passed the House, but was
one OF those which the Senate District committee
failed to report to the Senate. Senator Ingalls,
bi interfered with the right OF citizen do with
his own land as he pleased. The Commissioners
urged the bill not merely for the purpose OF secur-
lug harmony in suburban subdivisions, but with
view to regulating the laying out Of alleys. and
making subdivisions in the city. In letter to the
Senate District committee on this subject they
said: "There Is no general law or regulation at
the present time to regulate the subdivision OF
lands either within or Without the city and the
whereby two general disadvantages are incurred"
They refer first to the lack OF conformity In sub
say 1he subdivision OF properties within the for
mer city limits can be made so far as any clear
construction Of the law can be reached at the
into circles creScentS, strips OF land foot wide
II he choose, with alleys OF any width he shall
whereby most serious confusion Is created; laws
can be evaded and the just dues from property
made impossible Of collection"
THE ADDITION TO THE MOSES BUILDING.
Wcrkmen are engaged in preparing for the erec-
ton Of an addition to the building OF w. B. Moses
d Son, at the southwest corner OF 18th and F
streets. While the new building will be an addi-
ton to the present store building, yet it will be
larger than the present structure. 1t will have a
frontage SO feet 9 inches On 18th street and will
run back to depth OF 100 feet The present build,
aaS assse as p,epaEsa Ss p'aHs Sus IT,
IN design P to the ' present building. It viii
be seven stories in height with the sub basement
and basement, that is under the present building
continued. The material used will be hand made
brick laid in black mortar, with Ohio stone trim
nlinGs and courses. A vault will be constructed
under the side walk to a depth Of nineteen feet,
corresponding in depth to that OF the basement
and sub basement. There will be freight elevator
In the new building and the shaft will terminate
at the top in tower thirty feet high. The style
OF construction will be solid and substantial and
the building when completed will be one Of the
largest store buildings In the city.
Mr.. JENNINGS NEW HOUSE.
MI. James Henning is building new dwelling
On Pennsylvania avenue between 2lst and ed
streets northwest, from Mr.. r. F. Schneiders de-
full stories. attic and basement and high slate
roof. From the second story or1el window is
suspended In graceful form and extends to the
next story, and finishes as a balcony with wrought
iron railing. A wide circular top triple window
opens on this balcony from the third story cham
ber and the sky line of the front is relieved by
pediment extending to the ridge OF the slate root
There are Intel courses OF rock face brownsOne to
relieve the monOtOny OF the red pressed bricks
JOS. B. Williamson is the builder.
Mr. BOXERS RESIDENCE.
e w.
residence for his own use on the east side OF 10th
street, between 7 and streets The house will
be three stories In height and the 'front.' as shown
by the designs prepared by Read & Kirkus, aIchi-
tects, will be attractive The material used will be
red brick, and while the details are not elaborate
vet the effect is pleasing and exhibits good TASTE
There Is pretty wooden porch with red tiled
roof at the he -, entrance tram and the bay window
cOny OF wood, protected by red tiled roof. This
roof blends with the slOpng tiled roof Of the house.
wa1nScOting in the hall and dining The STAIR
case hall Is separated from the entrance hall and
from the library by handsome wooden screens.
On the third floor there will be studio and bill
lard room.
THREE ENGLISH BASEMENT HOUSES.
The English basement house has been intro
duced to some extent in this city, and this mode
OF interior arrangement has been found especially
suitable for narrow lots. This plan has been
selected for three houses on the south side OF N
street, between 18th street and Connecticut ave-
nue., designed by MT. I. +. Schneider, the archi-
tect Tor Mrs. S. P. Dixie. The entrances of two of
the houses are opposite each other, after passing
| under very wide stone arch, which spans part
OF each front. Under this arch two wide windows
light each entrance hall. The low entrance Of the
| third house Is also handsome feature. The in.
has as to Be b OF 'h a oa Ihe 1
pannelled ceilings. There will be wide, Old fash
| Toned fireplace In each hall. The stairway hall
will be elevated two steps above the entrance hall
and separated from it by an elaborate oak screen.
The staircase is very broad and easy and ascends
| to large hall occupying the whole width OF the
house.
| In the front is the parlor and in the rear the
dining room, both the full width OF the house, and
| connected by wide dOOrwayS Back Of the dining.
room there Is a small annex, which contains the
pantry and back stairs TO the kitchen The kitchen
| is on the ground floor, and has a side entrance
from the front street. The third and fourth story
are very roomy, and have bath rooms large closets
/ linen rooms and clothes presses. The houses will
be heated by steam. The fronts will be OF brown
stone, and the roofs will be high pitched, covered
with slate;i Oriel windows will project IRON The
parlOr floors, and above the roof large chimneys
dOrmers and gables will extend in the Old English
| style.
| ENLARGING THE ARNO BUILDING.
| Mr.. ". E Prall, the owner of the Arno an apart
| ment house, on the west side of 10th street. be-
tween 1 and X streets, will soon begin the work
OF greatly charging that building, and when the
| alterations and improvements are completed II
| will be more than double its present size. The
plans, as provided by Read KirkuS, architects
provide for addition % feet front on the south
side and an addition OF "a feet on the north side
both additions running back to depth OF lob fee6
The fourth floor, or attic story, Will be raised Ct
the height OF full story, and the additions will
| be carried up with bay window projections termi.
mating at the top with graceful towers. The front
OF the reconstructed building will be n1nety-s1x
feet, and the material used red brick, and terra
ton OF the present building. The cost OF the i'm.
prOvementS viii be $4,000
| BUILDING NOTES.
! Mr.. Calder0n Carlisle has in contamination the
Improvement OF his prODerty af the northwest